Sony has worked with the QVC UK project team to develop a robust technical solution |
QVC UK, the UK’s leading multimedia retailer, has recently announced that it will broadcast over a High Definition (HD) infrastructure thanks to the partnership with Sony Professional Solutions Europe. The network has relocated its existing services to a new, tailored facility in Chiswick Park, London W4.
Sony has worked very closely over the past year with the QVC UK project team to design and implement a robust and flexible technical solution for the company. The partnership will see the studios equipped with 12 Sony HDC-1400 and three Sony HDC-P1 cameras, as well as the latest Sony MVS-7000X switchers. This comes as part of a wider international upgrade programme that will deliver an HD ready infrastructure for the shopping network.
The QVC UK business plan demands maximum uptime to maintain commercial revenues and the new system design includes a flexible, reliable and dynamic software based control system, to re-allocate facilities at the touch of a button, maintaining continuous service to QVC UK's customers.
Paul Murphy, QVC UK Director of Technology, comments: “What was important to us was the ability to work alongside a technology provider that would guide us through the transition and ensure that everything would be up and running prior to the launch. The addition of an HD service is part of our ongoing commitment to excellence and providing a choice to our customers. Sony’s offering ensures that we provide the highest quality to our customers, and provides us with enhanced reliability.”
Martin Schimmer, Senior Project Manager at Sony stated: “It was clear that QVC UK required a technology partner as opposed to an installation services provider. Working with QVC UK and understanding their business processes, we are confident we can help them to take this next step forward. Our approach, incorporating products, processes and on-going expertise, will enable QVC UK to move to High Definition broadcasting without the pain points that you would come to expect from such a large migration.”
The system was prefabricated and tested at Sony Europe headquarters in Basingstoke, with site installation beginning in September 2011. The installation and subsequent testing are now complete and QVC UK’s HD offering will be enabled in June 2012.